Journal: Journal of the Evangelical Theological Society
Volume: JETS 66:2 (Jun 2023)
Article: Cisterns, Death, And Food: The Narrative Function Of The Cistern Motif In Jeremiah 38 And 41
Author: Timothy Yap

JETS 66:2 (June 2023) p. 235

Cisterns, Death, And Food: The Narrative Function Of The Cistern Motif In Jeremiah 38 And 41

Timothy Yap*

^* Timothy Yap is an independent scholar residing at 11 Regan Place, Rooty Hill, NSW 2766, Australia. He can be contacted at [email protected].

Abstract: In the ancient world, cisterns were often a source of life for the community. However, in the book of Jeremiah, they are associated with death. In Jeremiah 38, the prophet is cast into a pit, where he is left to die of starvation. Three chapters later, Ishmael uses a cistern as a graveyard. Moreover, in both accounts, food plays an important role. Jeremiah 38 is situated within the context of a famine, where “there is no longer any bread in the city.” Jeremiah is saved from the cistern so that he will “not starve to death.” Conversely, the story of Jeremiah 41 unfolds in the seventh month, a time associated with harvest, when returning Jews bring “an abundance of wine and summer fruits” to Mizpah. Also not to be missed is the travesty of murdering Gedaliah and his cohorts at Gedaliah’s banqueting table. This article explores how the motif of the cistern functions as a symbol of death in Jeremiah 38 and 41. It argues that despite the fulfillment of God’s promise of restoration (as evidenced in the provision of food), the people still choose to embrace their own “cisterns.”

Key words: cistern, Jeremiah, Babylonians, Zedekiah, Gedaliah, famine, drought, Ishmael, food, death

In the Hebrew Bible, the word בור (“pit”) denotes a large hole dug in the ground or in the rocks. These pits can be used to catch wild animals (Ezek 19:1–8), to imprison other human beings (Gen 37:24; Exod 12:29), to bury the dead (Ps 28:1; Isa 28:18), or to store water (Deut 6:11). In Jeremiah 38 and 41, the pits refer not to holes in the ground intended to store animals or prisoners or corpses, but to water-storing cisterns.1 In times of drought, cisterns are indispensable for the survival of the community; they are the lifeline of the people.You must have a subscription and be logged in to read the entire article.
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